John R. Miller, Sr, 84, of North Fort Myers, Fla., husband of Janet Mahanna Yarrish Miller, died February 3 at Heartland Medical Center, Fort Myers. He was born in Bridgeport, September 7, 1929, son of Raymond E. and Mary (Schneider) Metcalf Miller.

William H. Felmer Sr, 85, of Danbury, died January 24, at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of the late Rebecca Corey Felmer. He was born in New Milford, August 21, 1928, son of William and Ethel Henderson Felmer.

George DeWitt Wight Ferris, Sr, 101, of Danbury died November 8 at Danbury Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Phebe (Kellogg) Ferris. Mr Ferris was born in Newtown, July 2, 1912, son of Ophelia (Thornhill) and Charles D. Ferris, and was the last of the Ferris family to be home-birthed at the family homestead on Route 302.

David Thomas Farrell, Sr, 64, beloved husband to Maureen Dillon Buckley of Bridgeport, died October 29 at his home, surrounded by his children and close family. Dave was born on August 29, 1949. He was a lifelong Bridgeport resident.

Gerald J. Bowers, Sr, 70, of Stratford, died October 11, at Bridgeport Hospital.

Survivors include a brother, Robert Bowers of Newtown; daughters Tammy Lyn Bowers and Patricia Maureen Bowers, and son Gerald John Bowers, Jr, all of Stratford; and two grandchildren. A daughter, Dona Marie Bowers, predeceased Mr Bowers.

He was a skilled diesel mechanic employed by Pace Motor Lines for 20 years, and was known to his coworkers as “The Candy Man.”

Arthur Hilario, Sr, 86, longtime owner of Hilario’s Service Center on Mt Pleasant Road in Newtown, died peacefully in his home, September 21. He was born December 1, 1926, in New Bedford, Mass., son of Germana Moura Hilario and Abilio A. Hilario.

A memorial service for Merwin Brinsmaid Burr, Sr, who died March 10, in Dale, Texas, after a long struggle with pulmonary fibrosis, will take place Saturday, June 29, at 10:30 am, at Newbury Congregational Church, Brookfield. He was born June 29, 1937, in Monroe, to Mabel (Smith) and Merwin S. Burr.

Known as “Junior” to his older brothers and sisters, he attended Newtown High School, until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, in 1955.

After helping guide Newtown through its darkest days post 12/14, leading a team of officials supporting a rebuilding site for Sandy Hook School, and four of the most challenging budget processes in memory, First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers have announced intentions to seek respective third terms this November.